Burial-casket.



M. 529,090. Patented July la, |399.v

E. ui PEoPLEs. n

BURIAL BASKET.

(Applimion and oct. 12, 169s.) (lo Ilodet.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

' mvl-:nron y Tf1-E GENS PETERS CO.. PNOYD'LTTMCL WASHINGTON, D. C.

ERASMUs dfrnortns or ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIeNoR To THE 1 NATIONAL oAsvKEr'coMPANY, jor SAME PLACE.

To all whom; #Antey onccrn:

' lippiiao'nrn estariamos., seminaeta'zeilftnmaein vBe it known that I, ERASMUS State of Pennsylvania," 'have invented anew and useful Improvement injkBurial-Caskets, of which the following isa full, clear, and ex- `-act description', reference `being vhad `to the accompanying drawings, forming part o f this specification, in which;

Figure lis a side elevation of an uncovered burial-casket, the left-hand half being insection. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section show-V ing in full lines they side and end panel and cove-sections folded down'around the base of the casket, and in dotted lines the sideand end panels raised andthe cove-sections only .folded back. f Fig. 3 is a detail of the'lock'at i the corner4 of/tlie'end and sideA panels. Fig.

4 is a verticalv 'section on thelline IV IV of Fig. 3. Fig. dis aplanyiew of the burialcasket, 4'showing the parts in lposition toremove the cover. Fig.' `6`is a plan of the lefthand end of Fig.l 2. 'f Fig.' 7`is 'an end View of theV casket; and F`g. 8 is an end View showing thek front paneland cove-s'ectiori'f'and one end 'panel and 'cove-section folded down, the back and end panels elevated, and their cove-sections folded outwardly.

My invention relates te burialfcaskets; and it consists in providing the body of the casket with hinged sidejand endpanels'and 'cove-secf.

tions hinged tothe side and end panels. The base portion ofthe body of the casketis com- Y pletely hidden from View when the hinged portions are folded down in their lowermost position. The usual appearance of a'casket is thus entirely eliminated. y" The hinged endpanels and coves and side panels and coves permit the side panels 3 and the end panels 4:. These panels, as shown` in the drawings, are rigidly connected to the base 2. The side panels 3 l, l O.Pnol nns', 0f Alleghenyin vthe con nty of "Allegheny and are provided wi'thhin ged panel-sections 5,and the end pan else are provided' with the vhinged ,panel-sectioned." To each of thesel hinged Apa'nel-secti'on's isjrsecured a hinged cove sec tion or, molding 7 S of the desired configuration.,YAV` Y A removable cover 9, which may be made very ligl t,"owing tothe fact that the usual heaif'yfmolding'is not a part thereof, rests upon and is securely locked in `place by the hingedcove-'sections when they are folded inwardly'f.n To the underside of thecover at itsends are secured .pins l0, whiohenter re` cesseslinthe end cove-sections 8. VThe side 'oovesection'sV and end ,coveesections 8 are provided frwith a suitable latch ll.` The hinged 'sections 5 (i of the panels are also providedgwith similar latchespwhich 'are illus- -trated 'inFigs 3 ander. When the parts are in theposition shown in Fig. 5, the two side covesections 'Zand one end cove-section 8 are locked together, the cover Qisplaced' uponl the pins 1() inserted in thelrecesses formed in theend 'cove-section Stdreoeive them. The open'coyesection Sis then olosed,and,when the latchesfon the end section' engage with the slotted retaining-plates onv the Vside cove-sections thepins 10 are held securely in the recesses inthe end cove-section and the cover cannot be removed until the latches are released. The latches comprise pa bell-crank leyerlQ, having; a hook on one arm which engages a'4 slotted retaining-plate 13 when in lockedposition. The other arm of the lever is provided with a pull-cord 14, 'which extends through the cove and panel sections to the outside of the casket, as shown, so that the latches may be disengaged.

YTo prevent the hinged si and cove'sections from folding outwardly o rv downwardly beyond the desired point, straps or other retaining devices l5 are secured to these parts. Y The handles 16 are secured to the base portion 2 and are'so located that when the sides and ends are folded down they are completely hidden from View and do not obstruct the adjustment of these part-s. This location makes a much stronger point of attachment than is possible when secu red to the de and endr panel i ssY v6ol

-the'ledge'.forrned on the cove-sections, vand y IOO hinged side sections. The usual couch or padded mattress 17 is shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2.

The advantages derived from a casket constructed in accordance with myinvention are many, since a large variety of effects may be produced, it being possible to Wholly eliminate all resemblance to a casket when the partsfare folded down'on both sides and ends. The effect then is that of a couch bordered by upholstery. At the same time it does not unduly expose the body. Between this position and that wherein the sides and end panels are all in the elevated position, the covesections only being folded back, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, it is possible to make many combination effects, as each of the side and end panels and cove-sections are movable independently relatively to each other and can be placed in such positions as fancy or necessity requires. For example, in Fig. S one side and end panel are elevated and their respective cove-sections folded back and the other side and end panel and cove-sections are folded downwardly to their lowest position.

The fastening for the corners of the panel and cove sections and cover are simple and effective, and in order to lock the casket, so as to make it impossible to open it without breaking, it is only necessary to cut the pullcords and force them inside of the sections through which they extend. The upholstering and covering greatly enrich the appearance of the casket, and a handsome effect is obtained in every position and adjustment vof the parts.

The operation and ad vantagcs of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and while I have shown an urn-shaped casket it is obvious this may be changed, and a greater number of hinged sections and the location of the point at which they are hinged, as well as the fastenings employed at the corners and cover, may be made without departing from my invention, since That I claim is- 1. A casket comprising a base portion, side and end panels surrounding the same, all of said panels being longitudinally divided into upper and lower sections, the upper sections being arranged to fold outwardly, and folding cove-sections secured to the folding panelsections, the folding panel and cove sections being arranged to surround and conceal the lower panel-sections and the base when folded outwardly and downwardly; substantially as described.

y2. Acasket comprising a base portion, side and end panels surrounding the same, all of said panels being longitudinally divided into upper and lower sections, the upper sections being arranged to fold outwardly, folding cove-sections attached to the folding panelsections, and a' separate cover arranged to rest on the cove-sections when closed; suband end panels surrounding the same, all of' said panels being longitudinally divided into upper and lower sections, the upper sections being arranged to fold outwardly, cove-sections secured to the folding panel-sections, corner-fastenings between the parts, and a separate cover resting upon the cove-sections when the parts are in closed position; substantiall y as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ERASMUS O. PROPRES.

Witnesses:

M. S. MURPHY, G. B. BLEMMING. 

